More than eight million Cubans will choose their local government representatives when the partial elections actually take place on April 25.

HAVANA, Cuba, April 19 – Radio amateurs, pigeon breeders, workers from the telephone system and Radiocuba, played a critical role yesterday, April 18, in Cuba’s municipal elections test that included mountainous areas and distant rural communities. The test run saw 150,000 members of polling stations mobilised to oversee every last detail, from the fitting-out of the stations, with their patriotic symbols, to the ballot boxes and basic documents. Thousands of across the island with responsibilty for communications; the flow of information to municipal, provincial and national commissions; the transportation of electoral authorities; the supply of participants with food; and other necessary tasks, also played an active part in Sunday’s preparations. More than eight million Cubans will choose their local government representatives when the partial elections actually take place on April 25. The biographies and pictures of the 34,763 candidates for the municipal government positions have been on display in public places since May 28. The lists of voters are also on display in public places, so citizens with the right to vote can verify if their personal data is correct or if there are any omissions. Vice president of the National Electoral Commission, Ruben Perez, praised those under him last week for the high quality of nationwide preparations for the partial elections. The official said that members of the electoral body recently visited 130 municipalities where they were able to see first hand the excellent organization of the process at the municipal and provincial levels. “The organization is excellent and it is particularly outstanding in the mountainous municipalities of Sierra Maestra and other regions where they have implemented all the necessary mechanisms to guarantee communications and the flow of information,” Perez said. He also praised the fine training of all electoral authorities which, added up to all the experience from previous votes, guarantees the success of the process that will be preceded by a dynamic test on Sunday, April 18. A second round of the vote for districts that need it is scheduled for May 1.